Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma

A report on the experience of using ultrasound by emergency medical technicians in dealing with trauma patients in pre-hospital setting: a pilot study

Document Type : Brief Report

Authors

Pir-Hossein Kolivand 1, 2
Peyman Saberian 1, 3
Mostafa Sadeghi 4
Maryam Modabber 5
Parisa Hasani-Sharamin 5

1 Prehospital and Hospital Emergency Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam-al-Anbya Hospital, Tehran, Iran

3 Anesthesiology Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Anesthesiology Department, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5 Tehran Emergency Medical Service Center, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.34172/jept.2020.23
Abstract
Objective: The current study was performed to provide real-time bedside ultrasonography for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and assess the advantages and disadvantages of its application in dealing with trauma patients in pre-hospital setting from their viewpoints.
Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted in Tehran, Iran. Twenty EMTs were selected purposefully and underwent a training program. Thereafter, they were asked to perform extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma (eFAST) using a handheld ultrasound device on trauma patients, and also filled a questionnaire prepared (in four components including C1: coherence, C2: cognitive participation, C3: collective action, and C4: reflexive monitoring) based on the normalization process theory (NPT).
Results: All 20 participants were men and their average age was 37.8 years (SD = 4.7). For C1, the median total score was 10.5 out of a score of 4-20; For C2, the median score was 6 out of 3-15; For C3, the median total score was 18 out of a score of 6-30; and for C4, the median total score was 11 out of a score of 5-25.
Conclusion: Overall, it seems that EMTs welcomed using ultrasonography in dealing with trauma patients in pre-hospital setting. Although they thought that it might somewhat lead to an increase in their workload; but they believed that sufficient training was not provided for them yet. The EMTs were uncertain about the viewpoints of the patients and did not know how it could affect patients’ outcome.

Keywords

Emergency medical services
Focused assessment with sonography for trauma
Multiple trauma
Ultrasonography
Subjects
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Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma
Volume 6, Issue 2
July 2020
Pages 92-97

  • Receive Date 30 April 2020
  • Revise Date 12 June 2020
  • Accept Date 20 June 2020

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